Golf Australia is pleased to announce that Audi Australia is the presenting partner of the 2013 Australian Amateur Championships, which begin next week in Melbourne.

An official partner of Golf Australia, Audi will team up with Australia’s oldest golfing championships and the home of Australian and international rising stars.

A 288-strong field featuring over 50 international players from Canada, USA, England, Germany, Scotland, Finland, Japan, France, Singapore, Korea and New Zealand will tee it up against Australia’s best at Commonwealth and Woodlands Golf Clubs on Melbourne’s sandbelt from 15-20 January.

Kevin Goult, Audi’s General Manager of Marketing said the company is pleased to support these talented amateur golfers.

“Audi is looking forward to a successful association with one of Australia’s biggest participation sports, through our partnership with Golf Australia. We are also excited by the prospect that we will be supporting the future crop of professional Australian golfers,” Mr Goult said.

“Golf is a strong drawcard for our customers, and our involvement with this amateur championship is a great way to kick off our 2013 golf sport activities. Golf is a highly-accepted sport in Australia and connects well with our brand values of sportiness and progressiveness.”

The World’s Number 1 amateur female golfer and defending champion, Lydia Ko (NZ) goes into the women’s championship as a strong favourite, while American and four-time US Mid Amateur Champion Meghan Stasi will also be a strong force.

Australia’s World Number 4 amateur Minjee Lee (WA) and World Number 10 amateur Su-Hyun Oh (Vic) will be looking for their first Australian Amateur crown.

The Men’s Championship will have a new winner, with the 2012 Champion Marcel Schneider (Germany) having turned professional.

The Australian contingent includes 2012 Australian Amateur Medalist Cameron Smith (Qld), WA Open runner-up Brady Watt (WA), and National Squad Member Brett Drewitt (NSW), with all hoping the trophy remains Down Under.

The youngest player in the field is 13 year-old Yumi Matsubara from Japan who plays off a Plus 1.4 handicap, whilst the oldest player in the field is 51 year-old Kim Johnson from Long Island Golf Club in Victoria.

Past winners include Michael Clayton, Michael Campbell, Matt Goggin, Brett Rumford, Kristie Smith, and Nikki Campbell, and with both champions receiving exemptions into their respective Australian Opens, they are the most prized titles in Australian amateur golf.

The Australian Amateur Championships presented by Audi will be held at Commonwealth and Woodlands Golf Clubs from 15-20 January.